What Recent TripAdvisor Changes Mean for Hoteliers

TripAdvisor recently announced that it is changing how it displays accommodation options to travelers in destination search results. This change also means an update to the ranking algorithm, which will better measure the consistency of business performance over time. So what does this mean for hotels? Keep reading to find out…

Growth of Private Accommodations

There is little doubt that the sharing economy has been one of the most disruptive forces in the hospitality industry to date. Airbnb has done a tremendous job gaining adoption over its 10+ year history. The company took a page from hotel websites and recognized, early on, the importance of professional photography and user reviews to drive interest and trust in a property. And over the last few years, they have made a push into business travel, making it easy for corporate travelers to get reimbursed for their stay and highlighting properties best suited for road warriors. Likewise, Airbnb Select designates the properties that will appeal to luxury travelers.

TripAdvisor Traveler Ranking Update

Given the growth of private accommodations, the news that TripAdvisor is changing how it displays accommodation options to travelers in destination search results should not come as a surprise. With a growing inventory of private accommodations, it makes sense that they would want to help travelers discover the best room for their stay, whether it’s a hotel, B&B, inn or specialty lodging.

The good news for hoteliers is that even though multiple types of property will be displayed in search results, TripAdvisor will continue to display the ranking of properties within their respective categories. In other words, if you’re the #1 Hotel in a particular destination you don’t lose that honor. As TripAdvisor states, ‘your property will still be ranked against other properties within their same category only, but other accommodation types may be displayed alongside it in the “Places To Stay” search page. Travelers will still be able to filter by accommodation type and other criteria to narrow down their choices.’

This change also means an update to the ranking algorithm, which still incorporates quality, quantity, and recency of reviews, but will also better measure the consistency of each business’ performance over time.

Making the Most of TripAdvisor

So how should hoteliers continue to make the most of TripAdvisor?

As always, the best chance a hotel has at ranking well on TripAdvisor’s Popularity Index is to have a steady flow of positive reviews on TripAdvisor. If you’re not asking your guests to write reviews, you’re missing out on review volume. While it might seem like overkill, we advise hoteliers to ask guests for reviews at check out, in a follow-up email after the stay, and any time a guest has a positive engagement with a staff member.

Hoteliers should continue to keep their TripAdvisor business listing up-to-date and as accurate as possible to ensure that guests know what to expect on-property. Review the negative reviews from the last few months and make sure you’re not marketing your property in a misleading way or masking anything that will come out in guest reviews. Remember, most guests write negative reviews when their expectations have not been met.

Hoteliers should respond publicly to online guest reviews. This engagement lets prospective guests know that the hotel is serious about guest service and uses feedback to improve operations.

Finally, continue to empower your team to focus on making guests feel special and appreciated. The best reviews typically come after a guest has a great experience with a staff member.

Daisy is the Content Manager at Revinate HQ in San Francisco. When she's not generating content for the Revinate Roundup, she's traveling the globe, staying active with her puppy, immersed in a sci-fi thriller, or on the hunt for the next best thing to eat.